Free Agency 2016

Buccaneers Sign Former Jaguars Punter Bryan Anger

With the need for a punter, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Jacksonville Jaguars punter Bryan Anger.

Anger has been the butt of many jokes since entering the league based on his draft status, as he was the highest drafted punter in over 15 years when Jaguars former general manager Gene Smith selected him with the 70th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

That draft was the defining moment of Smith’s GM career, as none of the players he selected made it to second contracts, he traded up to select Justin Blackmon, who is currently serving an indefinite suspension from the NFL and of course Anger, who was selected before Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Although Anger is certainly not worth where he was drafted, he’s not a terrible punter.

He wore out his welcome in Jacksonville because he was a symbol of the drafting of Gene Smith which set the team back years.

Here are some of his career credentials courtesy of NFL Media:

Anger spent his first four seasons (2012-15) with Jacksonville, playing in all 64 games, punting 360 times for 16,855 yards (46.8 avg.), with 113 punts inside the 20. His 46.8 career average stands as the second-highest mark in NFL history.

One of the top punters in Jaguars history, Anger’s 46.8 gross average and 40.1 net average are each franchise records, while his 47.8 gross average and 40.8 net average in 2012 are each rookie records and stand as the top marks in a single season in team history. Since entering the league in 2012, Anger’s 46.8 gross average is the sixth-highest in the NFL, while his 113 punts inside the 20 are the sixth-most in the league during that span.

A native of Camarillo, California, Anger played collegiately at California.

About Charlie Bernstein

Charlie Bernstein is the managing football editor for Football Insiders and has covered the NFL for over a decade. Charlie has hosted drive time radio for NBC and ESPN affiliates in different markets around the country, along with being an NFL correspondent for ESPN Radio and WFAN. He has been featured on the NFL Network as well as Sirius/XM NFL Radio and has been published on Fox Sports, Sports Illustrated, ESPN as well as numerous other publications.